Are MORE crosswalks better?

It depends. There is no easy answer and each potential site must be carefully studied so the benefits don't outweigh potential risks.
Here are some of the potential risks that ought to be considered:

• Studies have shown that pedestrians tend to have a "false sense of security" when using marked crosswalks and cross less carefully than they would at an unmarked location. This is especially true for children. Neighborhoods generally do not have crosswalks - unless a school or park is nearby. • Many motorists tend to oversee or ignore marked mid-block crosswalks. In-between intersections, driven speeds are higher and motorists do not expect pedestrians to cross on a regular basis. Marked crosswalks with little pedestrian activity are especially concerning. • Effectiveness is also a factor. If too many locations have crosswalks, drivers are less likely to notice them.

• Crosswalks should not be installed mid-block on streets with high speeds and/or multiple lanes - unless absolutely necessary and other pedestrian safety features are employed.

To outweigh the possible risks, Public Works staff follows best practices and utilizes engineering judgment. To evaluate a potential crosswalk location, the following factors are considered:

• Is it a low-speed street? (Less than 40 mph)

• Is there enough pedestrian traffic? (25 pedestrians cross per hour - schools are an exception)

• How much traffic is on the road? (A crosswalk is safest on streets with more than 3,000 but less than 12,000 vehicles per day)

• Is there sufficient sight distance? (The stopping sight distance ought to equal 8 times the speed limit)

• How far away is the nearest crosswalk or intersection? (A minimum of 300 feet ought to be between crossings)